After his sensational 8-50 on day one of the second Test, Nathan Lyon lifted the lid on the preparations that enabled him to shred India.

Hours of practice during the Big Bash League, bowling more than 1000 balls in Dubai and watching India's own master of spin Ravichandran Ashwin all helped Nathan Lyon to enter the history books on Saturday, the record-breaking off-spinner has revealed.

Lyon had played second fiddle to Steve O'Keefe in Australia's first match of the series on the subcontinent, but he came to the fore in Bangalore to return career-best figures of 8-50 and leave India in trouble on the opening day of the second Test.

He used what assistance there was from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium wicket to bamboozle the home side, only KL Rahul offering any resistance with an impressive 90 in the hosts' 189.

Lyon's eight wickets made him the most successful Australian bowler against India with 58 dismissals, while also recording the best figures for a visiting bowler in the country.